DUMPing grounds: A gift guide - er more like a framework

Capitalism sucks but gifting is a love language - what's a girl to do?

Working in the marketing and PR spaces, I know too much and have gift guide trust issues but there have been a few I’ve appreciated and wanted to offer my own. This list includes a few clients of my own but I hope you’ll take word when I say I stand behind them wholeheartedly. These are unbiased offerings through and through.

In recent weeks, all my social platforms are equal parts gift guides and Wicked movie breakdowns. “Gifts for the cool girl in your life”, “Gifts for your boyfriend who might need some style help”, “Stocking stuffers that just make sense”, and the list goes on. Frankly, I watch all of them too, hoping this one will help me find that one thing. That said, it’s becoming quite homogenous. The guys don’t all like golf, whiskey, video games, and cuff links. The gals don’t all want makeup, jewelry, and trinket trays.

DJ (my partner) and I have never done gifts in a traditional format given that neither of us celebrates Christmas for religious reasons and didn’t even live near family until moving out east (to be fair, my family was near but they have a tendency to flee the cold in the winter). We used to go camping in the desert the days leading up to Christmas when no one else would be there and enjoy the silence and vast skies only to drive back to Salt Lake City on the 25th and meet our friends at a now-lost dive bar. We just place “gifts” in their rightful place in the house until the other one notices or sometimes walks into each other’s offices and places the gift on the desk or throw it at the other person passively. I’m not sure why this has become our standard but it’s pretty on-brand for us.

My family indulged in the holidays and gifting when I was a kid for making childhood memories but mostly we just liked skiing on Christmas because no one else would be on the slopes. Clearly, getting outside and seeking less crowds is a theme here.

Now on the East Coast and closer to DJ’s family in Vermont, it’s become standard that we make the bi-annual voyage north to be the cool aunt and uncle to our nieces and nephews while fitting in as many days of skiing as possible. Last year, we managed to fit in 11 days and nine different mountains during a two-week period, including Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania, on our Indy and Ikon passes.

All this to say, gifting isn’t something I’ve ever seen as an excuse for excess. Practical, desired, and non-cluttering is the goal, so when I see these gift guides that seem to recirculate the same ads I’m being fed on Instagram, I wonder if any of us are thinking about gifting uniquely.

So, here is my gift guide that’s more about the intentional framework. I don’t care if you select the specific gifts I mention for someone in your life, I’d way rather you consider why I outline choosing them so you can identify those whys for the people you love in life. Most of these are things I’ve already gifted or have been gifted by my partner, parents, or other adored people in life.

Our far too tiny of a table over crowded by warpping each year.

Investing in others:

I have long thought about my purchasing habits for myself as “investments” in an attempt to steer myself away from impulse and short-term buys. This is no doubt a privileged take but I look to purchase the higher quality, longer lasting, ideally more sustainable option once rather than regularly replacing that item. I’m far from perfect in this practice but its a framework I strive for.

I hope to do the same in my gifting practices. I consider the longevity of a gift and am willing to opt for a single higher-quality gift for someone I love before aiming to fill the space under the tree for optimized dopamine hits in quantity.

This can be a particularly tough one as I keep up my effort of striving for “coolest aunt” to my nieces and nephews (its a tough and lovingly competition) since they outgrow everything so quick and I have to brief myself on their changing intersest each time I see them, but I’d rather get them some quality shoes for them to learn to skateboard in that will last the year at least, than be frivelous. This makes me realize how much I’ve become like my own aunt which deserves loving gratitude and an eye roll. Love you Tia Loca.

On that note: making the cop-out gift - not such a cop-out after all

Do it once. Do it right. Don’t do it again. Arguably the most gifted item of all time–usually some plastic soled polyester slip-on that will need to be replaced by next year–the house slipper. I have formally converted my family to Glerups and we will not be looking back–in fact, a pair are on my feet as I write this. The felted wool, leather bottom slippers are made in Denmark by an incredible family and are (I’ll say it) life-changing. The leather bottom means no click-clacking plastic on the hardwood floors (a sensory nightmare of mine). Wool means no need for socks but also no smell. They form to your feet and can even be worn year-round because wool regulates heat so well. I even have a pair of the natural rubber sole versions which are my go-to for errands, dog walks, and any other non-formal outing.

They’re more expensive, yes, and worth every penny because you won’t be buying them slippers again anytime soon. 10/10 a top-tier gift. Consider what simple gift could be elevated to be more sustainable and long lasting.

More than a statement

I see a very common suggestion for coffee table books as if simply searching “Insert person’s hobby” into Amazon might magically produce an aesthetically pleasing book that states that hobby/interest loudly across the cover. Correct me if I’m wrong but I always thought of coffee table books as being conversation starters and if you’re already in my home, I trust you already know my core interests pretty well. The TikTok-ifiscation of coffee table books has made them statement pieces instead of conversation pieces and I cannot get behind that.

Last year, I bought DJ the East Street Archives book, a visual anthology of snowboarding’s heyday in Vermont through the 90s by photographer Gary Land. DJ grew up in that scene, and the book is full of moments he remembers, was present at, or gawked at from afar as a young boarder. Does it fit the house color scheme? Yeah–but even more so, it says more than “I like this sport” and is something we will actually enjoy looking through over the years.

Similarly, as print magazines make a comeback, it’s an opportune time to find a subscription that will keep someone you care about engaged offline all year long. Backpacking? Trails Magazine. Climbing? Summit Journal. Travel? Ori Magazine. Skiing? Ski Journal. Snowboarding? Slush Mag. The options are endless and by subscribing to independent magazines, they are more likely to get stories, beta, intel, and other articles of interest than can be found online these days and make for great lil’ stacks on the coffee table or bookshelf. I’m biased but I think high-quality magazine subscriptions are a fantastic gift.

This thought can go for any item, not just coffee table books. Get to know the culture of the interest.

Gifts they want but can’t seem to prioritize on their own dime:

For years, DJ talked about the Holden Puffy Shorts. We would giggle about how silly they looked while simultaneously noting how practical they’d be from backcountry to inbound days all winter under non-insulated ski pants. While Holden appeared to stop making theirs when I finally decided to pull the trigger, I got DJ a similar pair from Backcountry last year and he loves them. He was perfectly fine without them, but he talked about them for long enough that I knew they’d be an appreciated gift. They are now a staple in his snowboard arsenal. Unfortunately, it seems that Backcountry has removed even similar shorts from their inventory but don’t let that stop you from finding a pair.

Holidays are an excuse to buy the thing you both need under the guise of a gift - and that is ok:

Last year, just in time for our voyage north, a HUGE box showed up in front of our house. DJ had bought me a Thule rooftop box for my Subaru Outback. Technically for my birthday which falls all too quickly after the holiday season, it was a necessary purchase for our ski gear, dog stuff, and all the gifts that made the trip to Vermont and has been a game changer for our travels since. I always thought they were a bit silly but I am so grateful for that box now.

Artists - specifically their own friends:

First off, if your partner doesn’t have friends who are artists, that’s a red flag. DJ has huge respect for his friends who are artists, so I try to keep in mind what pieces of art I can add to our collection, a new t-shirt or sweatshirt that supports his favorite bands, or a “gift certificate” for his next tattoo by our friend. We both love knowing our friends benefited from the season and it’s always better than some mass-produced trinket that may or may not have been a stollen design by bigger brands.

Some artist friends of ours I’m happy to share with you include:

• Spring Break Jake

• Emma Murray

• TwoXWooly

• Jitterbug Art

• TJ Rinoski (tatoo and fine art)

• Molly Powers

DJ is also the master of thinking of creative gifts that I wouldn’t suspect. Still to this day, one of my favorite gifts he has ever given me are these little wooden pieces that connect to the shutter button and flash connection on my Cannon AE1, the camera I first started shooting film on. It’s like jewelry for my camera. So simple and so sweet.

Stocking stuffers - the double-edged sword

My mother was a masterful stocking stuffer. Each year she would ensure we each had a fresh travel toothbrush and toothpaste, socks–a forever classic, Reese Peanut Butter cups, lip balm, a pack of gum, and a few other helpful tools that applied to our age and interests.

Nowadays, I see stocking stuffers talked about as finding doodads and doohickies whose only qualifiers are “so cute” from big box stores cosplaying small businesses.

So here are a few stocking stuffer ideas that stay true to the theme:

Edible: Sure, favorite candies are great but if you live far away from family or have recently traveled, consider a local delicacy, a boutique bag of roasted coffee, or a special sauce that can only be found somewhere they are not. It shows you’ve thought about them while far away and gives them something to look for when they come to visit.

Tried and true:

• By now, we all should be thrilled to get socks but leveling it up with a pair of Merino wool socks is a real treat. Darn Tough is our go-to sock brand but Minus 33 is a close second. Actually, anything Merino wool is a go, especially now living in humidity year-round. Underwear, shirts, base layers. DJ and I gift each other something Merino just about every year without really noting the trend.

• I’m also going to take a page out of my mom’s book and suggest travel toothbrushes or travel-size necessities. It’s a subtle hint to encourage more traveling and is something we often forget to buy for ourselves until we need it when packing. Paired with a little travel toothpaste and some floss, it’s the perfect travel essentials kit to keep on hand.

• Similarly, balms and lotions can be nice when thoughtfully identified. I’ve gotten my in-laws CBD balms and creams in the past to help with aching joints or picked up special salves for dried winter skin. Be mindful of scents in this category. Unless you know what scents they like, unscented is not boring–it’s practical. Personally, I’m always a sucker for a fresh chapstick.

Something special yet useful: Last year I got DJ a Flip Fuel from Garage Grown Gear. Priced at $35, it’s not cheap but also not exuberantly expensive and very practical for how many half-used fuel canisters we have in our basement gear closet.

Gift cards: DJ’s sister got us a gift card to the gas station around the corner from her house in Vermont last year which as simple as it sounds was brilliant. Vermont gas stations are built different and this one has the best coffee in town and is our go-to pick-up on our way to go skiing while visiting. That covered a few coffees and breakfast sandwiches for our trip which was greatly appreciated.

Anyways…

Capitalism is trash but if there is something that just fits right, I say it’s a great time to treat the people you love. Just avoid junk, cheap, and mindless gifting.

Happy Holidays - get outside!